Inexpensive mic vs. built-ins

[rhythm]

Hello, my son will be starting some of his own recording projects in his bedroom soon with a multi-track recording unit such as a Tascam DP-008 or a Zoom R8. Each of these units has dual built-in condenser mics. I'm sure that purchasing a nice microphone and using that instead would produce much better results, but would that be the case with a really inexpensive mic? I've noticed that there are some condenser mics that are really inexpensive, such as the MXL 990 or V67, or an AT2020. The price of these is obviously pretty attractive, but I'm wondering if going that cheap is going to mean little to no improvement over the built-in mics in the recording units. Would a mic in this price range be worth buying if the only other alternative is the built-in mics?

BTW, the primary instruments that will be getting recorded will be alto and tenor saxophones.

Thank you,
Greg

 

[Armistice]

I don't have experience with any of those mics but I believe at least the first two get a pretty good rap for the price. Make sure your recording device has phantom power and XLR inputs (pretty sure they all do these days, but ya never know...).

Having a separate mic gives you many more options in how you position it with regards to the horn(s) - and there will be lots of experimenting that needs to be done.... pretty hard when it's attached to a machine.

Recording horns in a small room may present other challenges with reflections etc.

Don't forget an adjustable boom stand and mic cable while you're shopping...

 

[grimtraveller]

While the built in mics may well be pretty good for what they are and do, having an external, movable mic widens the scope of any recordist and as such, are worth buying. If your son ends up disliking them, consider the cost as the price of an education !
While I can't vouch for the mics you've mentioned, I can say that I have a pair of 'inexpensive' condenser mics {a set of Stereoset EM700s} and they've been brilliant for me in recording things like drums, acoustic guitars, clarinets and saxophones.
Hopeless for vocals though !

 

[rhythm]

Within 5 minutes of posting this, I started thinking about the whole mic placement thing and figured that with any external mic there's the flexibility of placing where you want and that may be more important than whether or not the mic that we buy is better than the built-in ones. Thanks for the replies so far.

Greg

 

[Bobbsy]

I agree 100% with what the others have said about mic placement--optimum positioning would be very awkward with either of the units you mention. Getting the box on a stand with a pop filter and retaining access to the controls and metering wouldn't be my idea of fun!

Beyond that, looking at the pictures, I'd be very suspicious of the mics on/in either the Tascam or the Zoom. The mics on the end of smaller recorders like the Zoom H4n are actually okay but the act of building a mic inside the case of a multitrack device doesn't sound right to me. The pick up pattern of any mic is largely determined by the shape and venting of the case--easy to do when it's only a mic case but, to put the mic inside a small rectangular box seems to me a compromise too many.

Finally, when you consider price, think about what you're getting for the cost of the multitrack unit then ask yourself how much of that can be devoted to the mics. I know places I can buy miniature electret condenser mics for under five dollars--and I suspect that'll be the level of mic you're getting as a built in.

I've got some personal experience with the MXL990--a bit lacking in crispness/clarity but not bad at all for the money. However, I've heard even better things about the V67 and the AT2020. I'd pick one of those and go for it.